Abhimaan looked at the phone, seeing that he had Anisha's number. He was about to call her when his mother entered and said, "Abhi, we need to talk. Be in Papa's room in 5 minutes." Abhimaan nodded and went to his grandfather's room.
Meanwhile, Anisha sat in the balcony, hugging her knees and crying. Her mother, Ridhima, came over and hugged her. Anisha rested her head on her mother's lap. Ridhima kissed her forehead and said, "Jo hua woh sach nahi tha, magar ho gaya. Shaadi ek bahut pavitra bandhan hai. Anisha, yeh ek do din ke saath nahi, jaanam ke saath hota hai. Jo bhi sochna, soch samajh kar sochna, sindoor koi khel nahi hai." (What happened was not true, but it happened. Marriage is a very sacred bond. Anisha, it's not about a few days, it's for life. Whatever you think, think carefully. Sindoor is not a game.)
Anisha just hugged her mother tightly, not saying a word.
In Devendra's room:
Devendra, Aasta, Abhimaan's parents, Baldev, Savitri, Abhimaan's uncle and aunty, were already present. Abhimaan walked in and said, "Dadu, you called?"
Devendra nodded and told everyone to sit. Everyone settled on the sofa and bed. (Everyone already knew about the incident; Devendra had already told them.)
Devendra: "Abhimaan, hum kal Anisha ke ghar ja rahe hain."
Abhimaan: "Kya? Kyun?"
Devendra: "Aap log jaante hain, jo bhi hua ek accident tha, lekin main nahi maanta. Yeh shaadi mujhe... (You all know that it was an accident, but I don't believe in it. This marriage...)"
Aasta (his mother): "Beta, aisa nahi hota hai. Shaadi toh ho chuki hai, ab yeh Anisha pe hai, usse kya karna hai woh, aaj nahi toh kal shaadi toh karni thi na?" (Son, it's not like that. The marriage has already happened, now it's up to Anisha. She has to do it, whether today or tomorrow.)
Savitri (his chhoti maa): "Haan beta, didi sahi keh rahi hain. Woh Anisha bahut achi ladki hai, main usse humare business parties mein mil chuki hoon." (Yes, son, aunt is right. Anisha is a very good girl. I've met her at our business parties.)
Abhimaan: "Magar mujhe shaadi nahi karni."
Devendra: "Shaadi ho chuki hai. Abhimaan, tum maano ya nahi, sach badal nahi jayega." (The marriage has already happened. Abhimaan, whether you accept it or not, the truth won't change.)
Devendra: "Abhimaan, dekho, humari bhi umar ho gayi hai. Bhagwan ke paas jaane se pehle, kaam se kaam apne bade pote ki shaadi dekhna chahta hoon. Meri aakhri khushi samjho." (Abhimaan, look, I'm getting old too. Before I go to God, at least I want to see my grandson's marriage. Consider it my last happiness.)
Abhimaan took a deep breath and said, "Theek hai, main isse shaadi ke liye tayaar hoon, magar mujhe kuch shartein hain." (Okay, I'm ready for this marriage, but I have some conditions.)
Aasta: "Kaise shartein?" (What conditions?)
Abhimaan: "Pehle, mujhe yeh shaadi ek din mein khatam chahiye." (First, I want this marriage to be completed in one day.)
Abhimaan: "Dusre, shaadi ke baad meri shaadi zindagi mein koi interference nahi karega." (Second, after the marriage, no one will interfere in my married life.)
Devendra: "Hum yeh manzoor hai." (We agree to this.)
Abhimaan then went to his room and called Anisha.
Anisha: "Hello?"
Abhimaan: "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened to me that time, but listen to me very carefully. Tomorrow, my family is coming to your house to discuss the marriage. Just say no. I know you don't want this marriage either."
Anisha: "Okay."
Anisha hung up and cried herself to sleep.
The next morning:
Anisha woke up to the sound of her phone ringing. She didn't even look at the name before answering.
Suhana: "Where are you, madam? Don't you have to come to college?"
Anisha: In a low voice "No, I'm not feeling good today."
Suhana: "Ani, what happened? Why does your voice sound like this?"
Anisha: "Just a little headache."
Suhana: "Are you sure? Should I come over?"
Anisha: "No, I'll call you later. Bye."
She hung up and went to the washroom.
In College:
Suhana entered the college but bumped into someone.
Suhana: "Can't you see where you're going?" She rubbed her head.
Abhimanyu: "Oh hello, you're the one who always bumps into me!"
Suhana: "Oh really? Tumhare jaise insaan ko dekhke toh banda andha banne ki dua karega!" (Oh really? Seeing someone like you makes people pray to go blind!)
Abhimanyu smirked. "Tum toh mujhse har din takrati ho. Kahin tumhe mujhse pyar-wyar toh nahi ho gaya?" (You bump into me every day. Don't tell me you're falling in love with me?)
Suhana raised an eyebrow, trying to control her laughter. "Pyar? Tumhari shakal hai pyar karne wali? Agar tum last insaan hote na, tab bhi main tumhare ghar ke gate tak bhi nahi aati!" (Love? Do you think your face is the kind to fall in love with? If you were the last man on Earth, I wouldn't even come near your house gate!)
Abhimanyu feigned a wounded expression. "Aree wah! Tumhare standards toh Hollywood tak pahunch gaye. Magar tumhari khud ki shakal toh cartoon network se neeche nahi hai!" (Wow! Your standards have reached Hollywood. But your own face doesn't even cross Cartoon Network!)
Suhana laughed loudly. "Shakal meri Cartoon Network hai, par at least main lizard-dekh ke chilati nahi hoon!" (My face might be Cartoon Network, but at least I don't scream when I see a lizard!)
Abhimanyu, trying to regain his dignity, crossed his arms. "Woh toh bas mera sense of empathy hai. Mujhe unse connection feel hota hai." (That's just my sense of empathy. I feel a connection with them.)
Suhana: "Haan haan, lizards ke saath connection aur mere saath takraane ka obsession. Tumhe doctor ke paas le jaana chahiye." (Yeah, yeah, a connection with lizards and an obsession with bumping into me. You need to see a doctor.)
Abhimanyu: "Tumhare jaise nakchadi ko bardasht karne ke liye, mujhe psychiatrist ke paas jaana padega!" (To tolerate someone as stubborn as you, I'll need to see a psychiatrist!)
Just then, Shreya walked over. "Guys, please stop. Tum dono ki shadi ke liye ek pandit bula loon kya? Har din ki nok-jhok toh shaadi ke after-effects lagte hain." (Should I call a priest for your wedding? Your daily fights seem like post-marriage effects.)
Suhana: "Shadi? Agar yeh mera pati hota na, toh main din-raat sirf tawe pe uska sar sekhti." (Marriage? If he were my husband, I'd spend all day frying his head on a pan.)
Abhimanyu: "Aur main tumhe ghar ke bahar ek board laga ke baithata: 'Warning! Danger Ahead.'" (And I'd put up a board outside the house saying, 'Warning! Danger Ahead.')
Shreya shook her head and pulled them both by their arms. "Class shuru ho gayi hai, chalo chup chaap andar chalo, warna mujhe lagta hai tum dono ek din principal ke office mein padosi ban jaoge." (Class has started, come inside quietly, or I feel like you two will become neighbors in the principal's office one day.)
Suhana and Abhimanyu walked to there classes, still glaring at each other, while Shreya sighed, wondering how long their love-hate saga would last.
At Anisha's home:
Anisha came out of the washroom to find Manish, her father, and Ridhima, her mother, standing there.
Anisha: "Maa, Papa?"
Manish: "Accept this marriage."
Anisha was stunned, unable to respond. She looked at her mother.
Ridhima: "Your father is right, Anisha. I also think this is the right thing."
Manish looks at her, his voice stern yet filled with an unspoken plea, "Anisha, we are middle-class people. We don't have much. What we do have is our dignity. And people are already talking. Do you know what they'll say about us if this is ignored? I can't let that happen. I can't let them think we don't care about our own family's future, and this is your chance to make things right. For us. For your father's health. Do you want to be the reason why our name gets dragged through the mud? Is that what you want, Anisha?" He paused, his eyes looking tired yet filled with a silent request, "Think about it. Don't make me regret all this.
Ridhima: She came to Anisha and placed her hands on her cheeks. "Beta, you know your father's health. Please say yes."
Anisha: "Maa, I'm only 19."
Ridhima: "I know, beta, but these are good people. They will take care of you. Please say yes."
Anisha just looked at her.
Ridhima left the room.
Lots of love
Author_Aayu💗
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